How do you get your child tested for learning disability

[Anonymous]

I believe my ES child has a learning disability, where do I begin to get him tested? Will the school push back? From what I've read it sounds like parents can experience resistance to having testing done? If that is the case, what is generally the best strategy?

I spoke to his teacher last year and she assured me he was fine and would catch up. However, my gut feeling will not go away and as I continue to read about signs/symptoms I am more certain he needs additional support to realize his potential.

If I have to do private testing, how costly is that? Is there anyone you would recommend?

Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

Question: what are your concerns.

Suggestion: repost on Special Needs Forum. You will access really knowledgable and supportive people.

[Anonymous]

OP, go to the special needs forum. A wealth of information.

[Anonymous]

Go to your child's teacher and request an IEP meeting. The school will have to respond to your concern. In our case, the school put together a team to decide whether testing was appropriate. We did not get testing right away, but eventually they agreed. The testing showed an LD, so an IEP was created. The key takeaways for you are that 1) there is a process and 2) you have to initiate the process.

Another option is to go to private testing before going to the school. Private testing is expensive, though.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone!

[Anonymous]

I did DD private testing at Inova Kellar Center in Fairfax. It was comprehensive and the staff seem very good.

[Anonymous]

OP, you can go to KKI and CNMC also for testing.

[Anonymous]

If you have legitmate concerns and are not satisfied with the teacher's reply, speak with this year's teacher about it as soon as school starts. Let him/her know that you would like to have a meeting (an IEP meeting is for a student who already has an IEP). If the teacher brushes you off, let the principal know. I am an MCPS teacher, by the way. If a parent came to me, and I had no concerns, I would still have to schedule a meeting with the parent and members of the special education team. Either they can recommend testing, or help you understand why testing is not needed.

I know that push back happens in some schools, based on the responses from this forum, but in my school, I am motivated by what I believe is best for my students, based on my experience and expertise, and the rest of the administration/special ed. team is the same.

[Anonymous]

If you bring outside testing to the school with a "diagnosis", the school must consider it and respond to it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond. I really appreciate it!

[Anonymous]

If you write a formal evaluation request and submit to the school they are legally obligated to hold a meeting with a special ed team within a certain amount of days to determine what info is needed to determine if the student has a disability. I had to go this route for my dd last school year.

[Anonymous]

OP, I again suggest that you post on SN and describe your concerns. You might not know this, but many things that we (parents, public in general) consider a disability are not considered disabilities by the school. Starting the process is easy, but accomplishing something isn't always. You will open yourself to a wealth of free information by cross posting.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what your concerns are. We had our child tested for dyslexia because that was our primary concern. Our testing was done with a certified tutor & tester with one of the Orton-Gillingham systems.

Took the results of the test a couple of months after getting them back and requested a 504 Plan (in May). Our request was promptly tabled until October of this year, after we get into the new school year.

The school seems very content to wait as long as possible. I will not let them delay indefinitely.

You must be your child's strongest advocate. Don't accept the "everything will be fine" mentality that you might hear from a teacher (or other parents). If you think something is wrong, go after real answers.